REMARKS FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO
AT THE OPENING OF THE HIGH LEVEL CONTACT GROUP MEETING

December 15, 1998 -- Washington, D.C.

It is my profound pleasure to be here this morning with so many colleagues and friends
from both sides of our common border as we commence the second meeting this year of the High
Level Contact Group.

Opportunities, such as this one, for open and direct discussion between officials at the
highest levels of our governments are always welcome -- particularly when they bring together
the broad range of law enforcement entities dedicated to our common struggle against drug
trafficking and our common commitment to demand reduction. These meetings indeed are vital
to productive collaboration and the most successful implementation possible of our mutual
strategic goals.

In July of this year, Attorney General Madrazo and I signed a letter to our Presidents in
which we rearticulated and reaffirmed our recognition of the vital importance of consultation,
understanding, and mutual respect to the future of our bilateral law enforcement relationship.

And as the chief law enforcement officials in each of our governments, we agreed that
communication and collaboration on our plans and initiatives to put an end to narcotics
trafficking and other transborder and international organized criminal activity must be more than
a goal -- it must be a practical, functional, and respected reality. And it is through meetings such
as this one, and through my frequent conversations with Attorney General Madrazo, that the
reality of cooperation is being achieved.

There are undoubtedly still those in the public who believe that differences between
Mexico and the United States -- differences in cultures, traditions, and historic precedents -- will
forever bar the forming of a meaningful and productive bilateral relationship.

There are undoubtedly still those in both our countries who believe that the variations
between our procedures and legal systems pose insurmountable obstacles to full cooperation.

They believe the challenges we face are simply too difficult, and potentially divisive, to permit a
bilateral cohesion of spirit and effort.

And there are certainly those in the criminal community on both sides of the border who
have been trying, with some success in the past, to use our differences against us.

But I think the doubters, the cynics, and the criminals are simply wrong -- because they
have no real understanding of the vibrancy and viability of the fundamental bond between
Mexico and the United States.

We do face enormous challenges in confronting and combating domestic and
transnational crime -- particularly in light of the constantly-changing and
increasingly-sophisticated patterns and methods employed by our adversaries.

Our legal systems are indeed different in a number of ways because of the
different jurisprudential traditions and foundations on which they are based.

But I believe, and I know my colleagues here today share this belief, that the challenges
we face only make us stronger--by tantalizing our mutual creativity and fortifying our resolve not
to be outwitted or outmaneuvered by the craftiness and ingenuity of the criminal community.

Whatever differences exist between our systems and our procedures should not be viewed
as stumbling blocks to cooperation -- but as building blocks -- formed from our diverse
experiences, our sovereign personalities, and the strongest aspects of our national characters and
capabilities -- to create, sustain, and solidify our unique partnership of will and action.

It is incumbent upon us, here today to dispel doubts about the legitimacy and depth of
our commitments to one another and to the fight against crime.

We must, of course, be candid among ourselves and with the public we serve
about problems and disappointments we encounter in our work together.

But we must also do a better job of communicating our successes and our
achievements, whether they occur through individual effort or joint initiative --
successes in operational areas, such as arrests, seizures, and prosecutions --
achievements in policy areas, such as the development of the Bilateral Drug
Strategy and the steps being taken toward implementation -- successes in joint
educational programs -- and achievements in multilateral fora, like the United
Nations and the Organization of American States.

We do ourselves and the public a disservice, I think, when we do not share and
communicate the full scope of our dealings and our endeavors.

This forum provides us with a fine opportunity to discuss, explain, and improve our
relationship -- and I look forward to our consultations and conversations over the next two days
with great anticipation.